Apparatus for bleaching fruit



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1 S. W. LOWELL 8u F. A. HOOKER.Y

APrARATUsiPoR BLEAGHING FRUIT'.

Patented, Ap1'-.11,1882.

(No Model.) y 2 sheets-shear 2. S. W. LOWELL 8a F. A. HOOKER.

APPARATUS FOR BLEACHINGPRUIT. No. 256;'341. Padzen'ed- Apr. 11.1882.

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UNETEE vSTATES PATENT OFFICE. i

sETH W. LOWELL, OE HUME, NEW YORK, AND EEANK AHOOKEE, `OE CHAR-- LOTTE, MICHIGAN, AssICNOEs To THE sTEAM HEAT EVAPOEATOE COM- PANY, OE CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FRUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent' No. 256,341, dated April 11, 1882.

Application filed January 19, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, SETH W. LOWELL and FRANK A. HOOKER, citizens of .the Unit-ed Sta-tes, residing respectively at Hume, Allegany county, New York, and Charlotte, Eaton county, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l1`ruit-Bleaching Machines, ot' which the following is a specitication, reference being had therein to the ac- [O companyingdrawings.

Our invention relates to an improvement in fruit-bleaching machines; and it consists in a peculiar construction of parts whereby the sliding frames containing the fruit can be admitted to the apparatus and subjected to the action of the bleaching chemicals without permitting any escape of the vapor during their admission, and similarly withdrawn, as will be more fully'set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure l is avertical longitudinal section of our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed sections of the sliding doors and `ruitframes- Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the frame.

A represents a suitable rectangular chamber of any desired size, provided with a door, a, On one side, whereby a vessel, c', containing burning sulphur or other chemical compound,

may be admitted.

Running lengthwise through the chamber are the grooves or ways B, which extend a suitable distance beyond each end, in which slide the fruit-frames C, consisting of the longitudinal guides c and the connecting crossbars c', having their outer edges beveled at o2. The bottom of the frame is covered with wiregauze or cloth, as may be desired.

The guides c extend some distance beyond 4o the cross-bars o', and at their ends are beveled away, as shown at c3, Figs. 3 and 5.

Entrance is admitted tothe chamber A for the frames C by means of the doors at each end. These doors have a rectangular piece cut from them at their lower corners, as shown at d', Fig. 4, so as to allow the doorsv to come down and t closely around the ways B.

The doors D are held in the space between of which there are two to each door.

the two bulkheads d2, and allowed a vertical movement proportionate to the thickness of the 5o fruit-frames, being held down bythe spring d, From the under side of the cut-away corners d of the doors project the pins d2, through holes made in the upper sides of the ways, directly in the paths of the beveled portions c3 of the frames, stopping short of the bottom of the grooves, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

When sliding the'frames into the chamber the beveled portions c3 strike against the pins 6o d2 ot' the doors D, causing the doors to rise against the resistance ot' the springs d a small way, the bevel c2 on the crosspiece c striking against the under edge of the door and causing it to rise high enough to allow the frames 65 to pass, when 'the doors close automatically behind them. Y

The chamber is made of sufficient length to contain any desired number of frames, so that when an additional one isinserted into the 7o chamber it pushes one out through the opposite door, as will be readily understood.

A fruit-bleachor thus constructed is always perfectly tight, none of' the fumes from the bleaching compound escaping while inserting and removing the frames. Owing to the projecting ends of the guides o, the frames are always kept sutticiently far apart to allow the vapor to circulate freely around them.

Having thus described our invention, we 8o claim- 1. In a fruit-bleacher, the combination of the doors D, arranged to slide vertically within the ends of the bleacher, with the frames C, the guide-bars of which project beyond the 8 5 transverse bars c', and have beveled ends'c,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A fruit-bleacher provided with ways B, the extremitiesof which project from the ends of the bleacher, with frames C sliding on said 9o ways, and with doors D arranged to slide vertically within the ends of the bleacher, the frames() being provided with guides` c', having beveled ends c3, adapted to raise the ldoors by insertion under their lugs d2, and with 9 5 springs d, adapted to close the doors after the frames have passed through, substantially as eration by pressing under the bottom edges shown and described. of the doors, substantially as shown and de- 3. A fruit-bleaeher provided with Ways B, scribed.

vertically-acting doors D, and frames O, eon- In testimony whereof we hereby aix our 5 sisting of the guides c and transverse bars c', signatures in presence of two witnesses.

having their outer edges beveled at c2, said SETH W. LOWELL. guides projeetingbeyond the bars c', and pro- FRANK A. HOOKER. vided with beveled ends c3, adapted to be in- Witnesses: serted under the lugs Pand elevate the doors, L. O. SMITH, 1o the beveled edges c2 adapted to assist the opi RICHARD SMITH. 

